A transverse gradient coil design is described for wire wound cylindrical applications. The proposed design is aimed for use as a fixed gradient coil or as an insertable gradient coil. Although we describe a transverse gradient coil for clinical MRI scanners, the principle could be applied for use in preclinical systems. The gradient coil wire wound return paths are altered to allow for the ends of the gradient coil to be wrapped into the transverse plane of the MRI system to reduce the effect of their contribution to the magnetic field within the FoV. In essence, this new configuration reduces the inductance of the coil by decreasing the primary path and return path interactions, and in addition, minimising field oscillations to reduce peripheral nerve stimulation. The proposed design produces a large FoV, low coil inductance and small high order harmonics contributing to improved gradient magnetic field linearity. The proposed concept is particularly aimed at short bore magnets, as the length of the gradient tube becomes the limiting factor in magnet system bore length. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Concepts Magn Reson Part B (Magn Reson Engineering) 35B: 139-152, 2009